Hanging In there

You know those days where all you want to do is give up the fight, crawl up in a hole and completely self-indulge with tons of chocolate, shopping sprees, mindlessly good 90's movies and no thoughts or cares about others. I seem to be having a lot of those lately, but I refuse to give in! I wish this losing your life was a one and done decision.

Staring At Vacancy

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

-Genesis 50:20

Even after all the hardship Joseph has experienced in his life, he gives no weight to the evil but instead is focused on the good that God has brought out of the pain. God didn't cause Joseph's brothers to betray him and cast him off, but He did use the situation to show his providence and provision by using Joseph's situation to bring about what He had promised to Israel. God's plan assumes the existence of evil and works within in it. In fact, I won't make a wide sweeping statement, but in this case He depended on it's occurrence in order to carry out His plan.


Lord knows there will always be hardship in life. I may have experienced a bit more this year than usual, but I would be blind and stupid if I thought things would never get harder. I have wasted many months focusing on the pain and injustice of it all. Sure, I caught glimpses of how God was working through it, but I was too focused on the unfortunate situation to give proper admiration to what He was working out in and through me because of (not inspite of) it. 


My prayer today is that I might shift my focus from me to God so that I might have eyes to see the good things that have been there all along. So that I might see the beautiful thing He is making out of the dust instead of the vacant spot on the floor where the dust USED TO lie. For He does not put one thing to death and bring life to another, rather He resurrects and redeems the thing that was put to death. 


image viaAuntieP

Slow Motion Ballet

Isn't the human body amazing.

Josh Made It, I Ate It: The Perfect Roast Chicken

Image vianotquitenigella

This is hands down the best roast chicken I have ever had. Like Michelin Star good. It is so moist and bursting with flavor. You'd never know it only had 4 ingredients.

It is very important to get a small broiler chicken within the designated weight limit and I would highly recommend roasting it in a cast iron skillet. Enjoy! 

Recipe here.

MSGM Goodness

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Physicians Prayer

Saw this in my Doctor's office yesterday and really appreciated it...



Lord, Thou Great Physician, I kneel before Thee. Since every good and perfect gift must come from Thee:


I pray give skill to my hand, clear vision to my mind, kindness and sympathy to my heart. Give me singleness of purpose, strength to lift at least a part of the burden of my suffering fellow men, and a true realization of the rare privilege that is mine. Take from my heart all guile and worldliness, that with the simple faith of a child I may rely on Thee.


Amen

Soft Spot

What can I say, I have a soft spot for Kate Moss.

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All Black Everything

viamanifesto

Great Gatsby Poster Released

I really, really, really can't wait.

Is This A Cute Ring? Oui!

viaetsy

Josh Made It, I Ate it: Tender & Crisp Chicken Legs With Sweet Tomatoes

Josh makes this dish all the time and it is one of my faves! The chicken practically falls off the bone when it is done cooking and the tomatoes and basil add such great flavor. FYI: We always opt for the cannellini bean option instead of the potatoes. Recipe here.

Recipe and photo courtesy of: A Cat In The Kitchen

Slippery Rocks

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious...when I saw the prosperity of the wicked... But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
-Psalm 73:2,28


I feel as if I have been crossing over a creek on  mossy rocks all year. It seemed as though this creek was shallow and narrow enough to cross easily, but the rocks I must use to do so are incredibly slippery making the journey slow and arduous. Every step is messy; my arms flail about as I try to catch my balance constantly. I have not fallen yet, but I feel as if it is only a matter of time until I am too tired to take the extra care that is needed to cross over this slippery grimy route safely. 


I see people skipping with ease over a nearby bridge that traverses this seemingly little creek; a bridge I never had access to. Great is the disdain I feel towards them. They don't even glance my way and if they do, by the time they have reached the other side they have forgotten about the girl struggling to find her steps on the grimy rocks. Why couldn't I have used the bridge? I ponder. I know it never was an option for me, but I can't help but be consumed by that question.


I look to the right, away from the bridge and am reminded that my Dad is there holding my hand. I had forgotten he was even there. And then I realize, my Father is in the creek with me, not on the bridge. To have had access to the bridge and have gone that route would mean the absence of my Father. In my heart of hearts I know I am right where I am supposed to be. 


I think back to the beginning of my journey over the creek and, to my surprise,  I recall time spent with Dad not my fumbling steps or near tumbles into the water. I realize that this time we've spent together crossing over these slippery rocks is invaluable to our relationship, but I can't help but feel I have had enough invaluable time and now that my legs are weary and my body is shaking I would kill for some solid ground. Though that's how I feel, and I don't understand why I haven't reached the other side yet, I decide to remain where I am because I trust that my Dad is no where close to leaving my side.


So I continue to fumble, walking slowly. Anxiously awaiting the moment when I reach the other side to rest my legs and tell everyone who used the bridge The Grand Tale of how my Father and I crossed the creek.

New Posting Category: Josh Made It, I Ate It

Introducing the newest category of posts on Sing To Me, Muse.... Josh Made It, I Ate It.


Basically they will be posts about the delicious recipes that Josh (my husband) has made and I have consumed.


Josh is an amazing cook and I love to eat and research recipes, so it should be a lot of fun. And I promise to only post the best.


Here is the first, and probably the most frequently cooked meal in the Waidley household....

Vegetarian Cassoulet

We always add sausage, because I firmly believe sausage makes everything better, but it is amazing by itself and is relatively cheap to make for the quantity it produces, which also makes it a great meal to cook for a lot of people. 

Picture and recipe courtesy of Smitten Kitchen.

Christianity And The Tooth Fairy

I have listened to this talk a few times now and find it informative, challenging and life giving.

Here is a brief description...

"Children believe in the tooth fairy until their reasoning capabilities mature and they recognize this belief is neither grounded nor relevant. Does belief in Jesus Christ require a suspension of logic? UCLA law professor Daniel Lowenstein interviews Oxford mathematician John Lennox with honest questions about Christianity and the grounds for faith. Followed by audience Q&A"

You have to sign up with The Veritas Forum to listen, but it's free! Might you give it a listen? Click here.